Srinagar: The Chhari Mubarak, the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva, was on Thursday taken to the ancient Sharika Bhawani Temple here for special prayers as part of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra.
“The Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji was taken to Sharika Bhawani Temple on Hari Parbat to pay obeisance to the goddess, popularly known as ‘Tripursundari’, on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada’ as per age-old traditions,” Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the mace, said.
He said a sizable number of sadhus and devotees participated in the ‘pujan’.
Amongst the mystics, goddess Sharika Bhawani is believed to be ‘Isht Devi’ (presiding deity) of Srinagar city, having manifested herself as a ‘Shila’ (holy rock) at Hari Parbat.
The ‘Chhari Sthapana’ ceremony will be performed on Saturday at the Shri Amareshwar Temple Akhara building in the Budshah Chowk area of the city, and the traditional ‘Chhari Pujan’ will be performed on ‘Nag Panchami’ on August 17.
The holy mace will embark on the main course of pilgrimage on August 22.
Giri will take the holy mace to the Holy Cave Shrine of Amarnath to perform Pujan and have ‘Darshan’ on auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan-Purnima’ on August 28 after night halts at Pahalgam on August 22 and 23, Chandanwari on 24, Sheshnag on 25, and two nights at Panchtarni on August 26 and 27.
The 57-day annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir commenced on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 28, 2026.
